Improvement in fire-escapes



H. W. CHAPMAN;

FIRE-ESCAPES.

No.,194,989. Patented Sept.11,1877.

IN TOR:

ATTORNEYS.

NPET'ERS, PHOTD-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. Cv

PATE 'r QFFICE.

HENRY W. CHAPMAN, OF BLUE RAPIDS, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-*ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,989, dated September 11, 1877; application filed July 23, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. CHAPMAN, of Blue Rapids, in the county of Marshall and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my im-- proved fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a front view.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved fire-escape which may be instantly made ready for use, and by which persons may easily and safely descend from the upper portions of burning buildings.

In the drawing, A is a triangular frame having attached to give it additional width, so that when it is turned up into position for use it will not tip sidewise.

The frame A is hinged to a flat bar, 0, that is fastened to the inner wall of the building in such a position as to admit of turning the triangular frame into a vertical position in the window-side, or of folding it back into the room.

The bar 0 is fastened to the wall by means of a staple, a, which permits of turning the bar into a horizontal position, and folding the frameA upon the floor of the room. At the upper end of the frame A there is a short arm, I), which is provided with a staple, c, for receiving the hook of the pulley-block D.

E is a seat attached to the rod F and provided with a bag, G, which is designed for receiving infants or goods to be lowered.

A rope, H, is fastened in an eye formed in the upper end of the rod F, and passes through its base a cross-bar, B, to

the pulley-block D, which contains three pulleys. The rope passes over the outer pulleys and under the central one, and downward through an eye, d, attached to the seat E. Straps I K are attached to the rod F for binding invalid or timid persons to the seat. The rope H is twice the length of the distance from the pulley-block D to the ground.

The apparatus when not in use may be folded upon the floor of the room, and may be covered by some article of furniture. When it is required for use the triangular frame A is set up in the window, as shown in the drawing, and the person desiring to descend sits upon the seat and lowers himself by the rope H, or is let down by persons from below. If flame and smoke should issue from the lower portions of the building, the lower end of the rope may be carried away from the building, and the person, in this manner, may be conveyed to a distance from the building.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the hinged triangular frame A, attaching-bar (l, and cross-bar B with a suspension-rope and seat, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The seat E, having an eye, 11, and supported by a rod, F, in combination with the rope H and pulley-block D, substantially as shown and described.

3. The bag G, in combination with the seat E, substantially as and for thepurpose shown and described.

HENRY W. CHAPMAN. Witnesses:

CHARLES E. TEBBETS, JOSEPH L. ELDRIDGE. 

